Increased data sharing sought among government agencies

There could be more sharing of data between school districts and county corrections and social services departments.

HF2245, sponsored by Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover), would make several changes to the state’s Government Data Practices Act concerning how sensitive data could be shared between local government agencies and school districts.  

Rep. Peggy Scott

The House Civil Law and Data Practices Policy Committee approved the bill, as amended, Thursday and sent it to the House Floor. The companion, SF2051, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Relph (R-St. Cloud), awaits action by the Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee.

Under the bill, data deemed private could be shared with school and corrections officials in order to coordinate services. Also, court services data could be shared with county community services personnel.

The bill proposes changes in terminology. In more than a half-dozen places, HF2245 would change the word “welfare” to “community services.” Scott said the Department of Human Services had concerns about that provision, and she may yet pursue changing that or other parts of the bill.

The bill would also:

• add Native American tribal programs and county public health, veteran services and housing agencies to the law’s definitions of welfare system and programs; and
• clarify that child protective services is among the agencies that shall provide updates on the status of an investigation to a mandated reporter.

Dakota County Commissioner and former Rep. Mary Liz Holberg said children would be better served if school districts and county community services departments could share more information.

An example of a problem the bill would ease, according to Kelly Harder, Dakota County director of community services, is that the South St. Paul school district didn’t know whether one-third of its 600 incoming kindergartners were reading-ready.

Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul) urged caution in changing data practices law to help government agencies serve the public more efficiently because unintended consequences may arise.

“I want to make your job easier,” Lesch said to Harder. “I just don’t want to get my hand in a fan three or four years from now.”